When speaking with industry professionals across the board (and around the globe) one issue pops up time and again: how can we improve the pipeline between young people interested in a career in sports and TV production and also make the prepared for success? Codega Media in Los Angeles is one company that is doing its part by combining training, consulting, licensing, and content production and creating an environment that teaches enrollees the hard and soft skills needed to excel. Melanie Mack an Emmy Award–winning media executive, AI strategist, and founder of Codega Media, discussed the mission and practical experiences and knowledge that is at the center of Codega Media’s efforts with SVG’s Ken Kerschbaumer.
How do students fine Codega Media and begin their education process? Is it a paid program or is it covered by grants?
Students find us through workforce development centers, word of mouth, social media, and our employer and community partnerships. Because we’re an ETPL-approved provider under WIOA, most of our students come to us through the public workforce system — meaning their training is fully funded through workforce grants. There’s no out-of-pocket cost for qualifying participants. Employers and corporate partners also sponsor cohorts directly, so the path in depends on who’s funding the training.
Tell us a bit more about the training itself. How long is the student trained and is it mostly classroom or is there also hands-on?
Our programs run from a few days to several weeks depending on the track. The format is a hybrid of hands-on training and classroom instruction. Students work with industry-standard tools and workflows while also building the foundational knowledge behind them. By the time someone finishes, they’ve actually done the work, not just heard about it. The goal is job-ready, not just certificate-ready.
Which of the classes do you offer is the most popular?
Right now, AI Literacy is getting the most attention — employers are asking for it and students know it’s where the industry is heading. Post Production has always been a strong track because the demand is consistent. Live Broadcast and REMI is growing fast, especially with the expansion of remote production workflows across sports and live events.
Do most students only take one track or can they take multiple classes?
They can absolutely take more than one. We design our curriculum as stackable — so a student can come in through PA Job Readiness and then add Post Production or AI Literacy on top of that. The more credentials they stack, the stronger their profile. We encourage it. The entertainment industry rewards people who can do more than one thing well.
How does the placement and interview process work? When someone reaches out to Codega Media, what are the typical steps to finding someone a job?
We start with an intake conversation to understand where the student is and where they want to go. From there we match them to the right track, get them through training, and then activate our employer network. We have direct relationships with studios, networks, and production companies. We don’t just hand students a resume template — we make warm introductions and work the placement actively. Our current placement rate sits between 90 and 100 percent, and we take that number seriously.
Can students work on union gigs?
Union eligibility depends on the individual and the specific union’s requirements — that’s not something we control. What we do is prepare students to compete for the kinds of positions that can lead to union work. Many of our graduates go on to get their union cards through the jobs they land after training. We make sure they understand how the union system works and what they need to do to get there.